Silent Heart Attacks

Posted by Anthony Lee Apr 25, 2009

When people think of heart attacks, they think of chest pain as the presenting symptom. While it may be true in most cases, it's not always like that. Some people might have shortness of breath or fainting as a symptom of a heart attack. In other cases, there may be no symptoms at all.

A recent study found that silent heart attacks, which include heart attacks without symptoms and heart attacks with symptoms believed to be non-cardiovascular, may occur more frequently than previously thought. This study was conducted using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a contrast technique called delayed enhancement, which involves contrast material accumulating in dead heart tissue to visually mark where heart attacks occurred.

Like any study, there will be discussion within the medical community. I can imagine that they would talk about how it's only one study and that the patients might not represent the general population. Nevertheless, the study is a platform for launching further research.

If there is one thing the study reminds us, it's that cardiovascular health, or general health for that matter, is more than just the presence or absence of symptoms. It's about what goes on inside our bodies, something to keep in mind in order to prevent symptoms from occurring.